Machine for concaving heels of boots and shoes.



J. N. BUSELL.

MACHINE FOR GONOAVING HEELS 0F BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8. 1906.

Patented June 25, 1912.

l/V/T/VESZSZ'S. i Mr dltddlhld arivr JOHN N. BUSELL, 0F BOSTON, MhSSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 U'NITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, 015 lATERSON, NEl/V JERSEY, A CORPOltATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR CONCAVING HEELS 63E BGGIS AND SHOES.

To all whom at may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN N. BosnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Sufi'olk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Concaving Heels of Boots and Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like partsin the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for operating upon heels.

More particularly it relates to machines for producing a concave cut in the breast portion of heels;

it is a common practice in the manufacture of boots and shoes to provide a'concave surface in the breast edge of a top lift for ornamental purposes after its attachment to a shoe. A machine embodying the present invention may be used for the purpose of forming such a concave surface.

As will be obvious from the following description the machine may be used, if desired, to opt rate upon heels before they arev attached to shoes. It will be also understood that tine invention is not limited to the production of a concavity in the outer lift of a heel, but may also be employed in other ways; for example, in forming a concavity in other parts of a heel. as in the edge of the heel in which the breast surface and the heel seat surface meet.

Some of the objects of the invention are to provide a machine by the use of which the concave or curved recess may be formed with exactness and to provide a machine by which the contour of the recess may be varied in several ways to be hereinafter more particularly described.

The machine herein illustrated comprises a rotary cutter in the form of a frost-um of a cone having cutting blades which are thus disposed at an angle to the axis of rotation. A work-rest is supported in cooperative re-- lation to said cutter, and gages are provided to guide the heel along the work-rest into position to be acted upon by the cutter to Specification of Letters Patent.

application filed. August 8, 19%.

Patented nine 235, Q.

serial the. 3529,?32.

produce the desired concave. 'lhe rotary cutter and the work-rest and gages are supported in such manner that. by moving them relatively, the character of the concave may be readily varied.

in the preferred form of the invention,

rest and gages are mounted in such manner.

that they may be moved toward and from the shaft of the cutter to vary the depth of the out, and they are also mounted in such manner that they may be moved parallel to the cutting edge of the cutter which is adjaoent to the work-rest to vary the len h of cut. The machine is also provided with means to center the work with respect to the cutter.

In the preferred embodiment the gages converge toward each other as they extend toward the cutter, and are provided with stops on their ends adjacent to the cutter to limit the movement of the work. lfhe gages are movable toward and from each other, and are connected together in such manner that they are moved away from each other in unison iii-opposition to a restraining force when the heel is moved between them toward the cutter. The restraining force increases as the gages gradually move apart, and therefore the clamping etl'ect on the work is greatest at the time when the cutter is acting to complete the concave which is the place where the material to be removedvis greatest. The gages are so arranged that each of them as it moves to successive positions is maintained parallel to its former positions, and means is provided for varying the amount of separation of the gages when no work is bebe set sothatheels of different width will accommodate the neck 16.

come intocontact with the inclined gages at the same place.

Referring to the drawings,-l igure 1 is a view in perspective of the machine with a portion of the machine frame broken away; Fig. 2 is a plan view, partially in section; Fig. 3 is a perspective of a heel after it has been operated upon by the machine; Figs. 4, 5. and 6 are detail views to illustrate variations in the effect produced on heels by different adjustments of the machine.

The machine frame 2 supports a shaft 4 having a pulley 6 rotated by a belt 8 con nected with any suitable source of power. A rotary cutter 10 is secured to the shaft by a screw 12 which permits said cutter to be readily removed for sharpening or replace ment by another cutter. The cutter is in the form of a frustum of a' cone having the large diameter farthest from the machine, and the perimeter is made up of a series of cutting blades 14.

Secured to the machine frame by a neck portion 16 is a cylindrical portion 18 into which is threaded a screw-threaded rod 20 having a milled head 22 by means of which said rod may be screwed 'into or out of the portion 18. The rod has a reduced portion 24 fitting the end of a sleeve 26 mounted slidably on the portion 18. Rotation of the milled head 22 produces longitudinal movement of said sleeve which has a slot 28 to *Angularly connected to the sleeve 26 is a second sleeve 30 the end opposite the juncture-having a portion cut away so as to leaveza'semi-cylindrical portion 32. Rotatably mounted in said sleeve but restrained from longitudinal movement therein is a screw-threaded rod 34 having a milled head 36. This rod is threaded through a screwthreaded portion 38 of a carrier 40 which may be moved longitudinally of the sleeve by rotation of the milled head. A workrest 42 has an offset portion 44 from which 1 a stem extends into avertical opening in the carrier, said carrier being provided with a clamp 46 to hold the work-rest in adjusted position as regards rotation about the stem.

11 order to center the work with respect to the cutter, a screw-threaded rod 48 extends through the bottom of the carrier into-enga ement with the stem of the work-rest;

Said rod is provided with a milled head 50 and a lock-nut 52.

Two rods 54 and 56 are slidably held in the work-rest, and these rods are notched toform racks 58 and 60 which engage a pinion 62 placed between them. To the rod 54 is-secureda block64 which is-slidably held in a slot 66 in thework-rest and to this block is secured an upper gage 68. A simi lar block 70 is secured to the rod 56 and this block is slidably held in a slot 72 in the work-rest. A lower gage 74 is secured to this block. The lower end of the rod 54 is screw-threaded and a thumb-nut 7 6 threaded thereon, a spring 78 being located be tween said nut and an extension on the lower end of the work-rest. The upper end of the rod 54 is also threaded and a thumbnut 80 provided. It will be seen that the tendency of the spring is to-draw the gages together and that the thumb-nut 80 constitutes an adjustable stop to limit the extent to which the gages approach each other. It will be seen that by this manner of mounting the gages, each of them as it moves to successive positions is maintained parallel to its former positions. The work-rest has a cut-away portion onthe edge adjacent to the rotary cutter so that the latter will not strike the former. The gages are given an inclination so that they converge in a direction extending toward the cutter, and the ends adjacent to the cutter are provided with stops 82 which limit the movement of the heel toward the cutter.

It is desirable that the concave extend across the top-lift from one side to the other as shown in Fig. 3. For heels of different size such as indicated in Fig. 4 by a and b, it is evident that the length of cut will vary as indicatedby the lines c-d and e-f. By turning the milled head 36, the operator moves the work-rest in a direction parallel to the cutting edge of the cutter that is adjacent to the work rest, since the sleeve 30 'is parallel to this cuttingedge. It will be evident that the length, of cut will be increased as the work-rest is moved toward a position oppositethe cutter where the circumference is reater. The same result may be accomplished by removing the cutter 10 and replacing it by another one of a different size. I

In 5, the heel is shown in full lines in a position to form the concave principally in the breast portion of the top-lift, while in dotted line position, it is formed principally in the tread portion. Betweenthese positions, the heel may be supported so that the concave will be formed equally in the breast and tread portions. This result is accomplished by loosening the clamp 46 and rotating the work-rest into the desired position.

. In Fig. 6, the concave is shown as having eeann? be adjusted in the direction of the width of the heel. This permits the work to be so adjusted with reference tothe cutter that the concavity formed by the cutter may have the particular position desired with reference to the sides of the heel. It will be understood that this adjustment may be desirable Where a change occurs in the contour of the top lit't being operated upon.

,worhrest, 'rst placing. the heel between the gages at the right wherethey are far enough apart to admit the same. He then moves the boot or shoe toward the left so that the heel causes the gages to separategradually and equally in bpposition to the restraining force exerted by the spring 7 8.- The forward portion of the top-lift is thus brought into contact with the rotary cutter 10 which forms the concave as shown in Fig. 3.

While the machine hasheen described in detail in the above description, it is to be understood that. various changes may be made in arrangement and in details without de )arting from the spirit of the invention.

ilaving describedmy invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. A machine for concaving the breast portion of a heel, having in combination, a rotary cutter, a work rest arranged to receive a lieelagainst its face and to permit movement of the heel breast 'foremostover said face toward the cutter, gages arranged to engage opposite sides of the heel and to guide the hcelin a predetermined ath 'toward the cutter, and means for hol ing the gages yieldingly in contact with the heel constructed to cause the movement of said gages to be equal and in opposite directions.

2. A machine for concaving the breast portions of a heel, having in combination, a rotary cutter, a work rest arrungwl to receive a heel against its face and to permit movement of the heel breast foremost over said face toward the cutter, gages converging toward the cutter arranged to engage opposite sides of the heel and to guide the heel in a predetermined path toward the cutter, and means for holding the gages yielding-1y in contact with the heel constructcd to maintain a predetermined angle between said gages.

3. A maclunc for concaving the breast portion of a heel, having in combination, a rotary cutter, a work rest arranged to receive a heel against its face and to permit movement of the heel breast foremost over said face toward the cutter, gages arranged to engage opposite sides of the heel and to guide the heel in a predetermined path toward the cutter and constructed to be, moved away from each other by the movement of the heel between them, and means for bolding the gages yieldingly in contact with the heel constructed to cause the movement of said gages to be equal and in opposite di rections,

4:. A machine for concaving the breast portion of a heel, having in combination, a rotary cutter, a work rest arranged to rcceive a heel againstits face and to permit movement of said heel breast foremost over said face toward the cutter, gages arranged to engage opposite sides of the heel and to guide the heel in a predetermined path toward the cutter and constructed to be moved awa from each other by the movement of the eel between them, and means'for holding the gages yieldingly in contact with the heel arranged to impart an increasing ressure to said gages in the movement 0 the heel toward the cutter.

5. A machine for concaving the breast portion of a heel, having in combination, a rotary cutter, a work rest arranged to rcceive a heel against its face and formed to. permit movement of the heel breast forcniost over said face toward the cutter, gages arranged 'to engage opposite sides of the heel and to guide the heel in a predetermined path over the work rest toward the cutter, means for holding the gages yieldingly in contact with the heel constructed to cause movement of said ges toward and fromeuch other to be equa and in opposite 'directions, and means for varying the amount of separation of said gages before the insertion of the work between them.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for supporting a heel, of a rotary cutter arranged to produce at the breast edge of the heel a concave of a given length, and means for varying the angle of said concave while maintaining its length constant.

7. A machine for concaving the breast portion of a heel, having in combination, a rotary cutter formed with a straight cutting edge, a work rest arranged to receive a heel against its face and mounted in an oblique relation to the ed e of the cutter, gages for positioning a beeupon said work rest with its breast face in the path of the cutter, and means for varying the angular relation between the work rest and the cuttcr to secure a predetermined angle of bevel upon the edge of the heel.

8. A machine for concaving the breast portion of a heel, having in combination, a rotary cutter, a work rest arranged to receive a heel against its face and mounted in an oblique relation to the edge of the cutter,

ing said-gages simultaneously toward andfrom the cutter in a direction transverse to the {1X18 of the cutter to vary the depth of cut made by said cutter.

9. A machine for concaving the breast portion of a heel, having in combination, a rotary cutter, a. work rest arranged to receive against its face the heel to be acted upon and to permit movement of the heel over said face toward the cutter, gages arranged to engage opposite sides of the heel and to guide the heel in a predetermined path toward'the cutter and constructed to be moved away from each other by the movement of the heel between them, means for holding the gages yieldingly in contact with the heel, and means for efiecting relative adjustment of the cutter and the gages in the direction of the width of the heel.

10. In a machine for scalloping or concaving the breast edge of toplifts, the com-.

bination of a rotary cutter, a work slide carrying a heel plate, a work slide support, a bracket carrying said work slide support, and means for adjusting the bracket and work slide support toward and-from the axis of the cutter.

11. In a machine for concaving top-lifts, the combination with a rotary cutter, of a work-rest, gages arranged to be moved away from each other by the. movement of the work toward said cutter, rods carried by said work-rest and to which said gages are secured, a pinion between'said rods in engagement with rack ortio-ns thereon, a nut threaded on one end of one rod, a spring between said nut and the'work-rest, and a nut threaded on the other end of said rod to adjust the relative position of said gages.

12. A machine for concaving the breast portion of a heel, having in combination, a

frusto-conical rotary cutter, a work rest ar-' ranged to receive against its face the heel to be acted upon and mounted in an oblique relation to the edge of the cutter, gages for positioning the heel'upon the work rest with its breast face in the path of the cutter, means for adjusting the Work rest and the gages in a direction parallel to the cutting edge of the cutter to permit theconcaving of the heel to be effected by portions of the cutter of different diameters, and means for varying the angular relation between the to be acted upon and work rest and the cutter to secure a predetermined angle of bevel upon the edge of the heel.

13. A machine for concaving the breast portion of a heel, having in combination, a frusto-conical rotary cutter, a guideway arranged in parallel relation to the cutting edge of the cutter, a work rest mounted for adjustment upon said guideway and arranged to receive against its face the heel to be acted upon and gages mounted upon said work rest for positionin the heel with its breast face in the path 0 the cutter.

14. A machine for concaving the breast edge of a heel having, incombination, a rotary cutter, 'a work rest formed to receive a heel against its face and to permit movementof the heel breast foremost over said face toward the cutter, gages arranged to engage opposite sides of the heel toguide the heel in a predetermined path over said rest and constructed to limit movement of the heel toward the cutter, means for adjusting said gages and rest in a direction parallel to the adjacent edge of the cutter, and means to adjust said gages and rest in a direction at an angle to said first-named direction.

' 15. A machine for concaving the breast portion of a heel, having in combination, a rotary cutter formed with a straight cutting edge, a work rest formed to receive a heel against its face and mounted inobli ue relation to the edge of the cutter, gages or positioning a heel upon said work rest with its breast face in the path of the cutter and constructed to limit movement of the heel toward the cutter, and means for adjusting said work rest and gages toward or away from the edge of the cutter without changing'the angle between said work rest and the edge of the cutter whereby the depth of cut made by said cutter may be varied without altering the angle of bevel.

16. A machine for concavingthe breast ortion of a heel, having in combination, a ii'ustoconical rotary cutter,

to receive against 1ts face the heel mounted in an obli ue relation to the edge of the cutter, gagesv or positioning the heel upon the work rest with its breast face in the path of the cutter, means for adjusting the work rest and the gages in a direction parallel to the cutting edge of the cutter without varying .the angle between the work rest and the edge of the cutter whereby the concaving of the heel mlafy be effected by portions of the cutter of d' ferent diameters without varying the angle ranged of bevel produced by the cutter.

17. A machine for concaving the breast portion of a heel, having in combination, a cutter arranged to be continuously actuated a work rest constructed to receive. a heel a work rest aragainst its. face and arranged to permit" movement of the heel breast foremost into the path of the cutter, gages arranged to engage opposite sides of the heel to' position 5 the sides of the heel upon the work rest and theuheel whereby the-position of the out produced by the cutterma be shifted 10 in the'direction of the width 0% the heel.- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN N. BUSELL. Witnesses;

MAMIE E. HUNT, MARY J. CLARK. 

